Back to School - Feedback! by Worcestershire Parent Carer Forum (WPCF)

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worcspcf — 2025-09-03 09:16:26 UTC

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EOTAS

2025-09-03 09:23:17 UTC

No package in place, a year after school placement failed. Really depressing seeing others talking about starting a new year and my child still has no education.

Transport distances - what a joke

2025-09-03 09:35:13 UTC

I've previously been told that children shouldn't be travelling for more than an hour. So they've placed my four year old in a school 20 miles away and he will need to leave the house at 7.40 in the morning to arrive at school at 8.50/8.55 and won't be home until beyond 4pm each day following a 3pm finish. How is that acceptable? Nobody cares because they resent these children having transport - the county council chose to place him at a school 20 miles away!

2025-09-03 11:06:03 UTC

To add to this - despite telling both WCC and the transport company that its unsafe for him to be in a booster seat due to height (size of a 2 year old) they've turned up in a booster seat and a vague promise of getting it sorted. They knew four weeks ago.

No mental health support for EBSA

2025-09-03 12:25:21 UTC

OCD and mental health so severe child unable to attend high school full time since February and not attended at all since Easter. No mental health support offered by school. No EP input. No CCN input. Refused CAMHS support because autistic. Refused ECHNA.

Only offered 2 hours per week tutoring in June/July since June despite us asking school for more. Three days ago received an email saying will now have tutoring three days per week 6 hours per day. BUT No details of who that will be with, what that will look, which subjects will be covered or if it will be online/in person 1-2-1/group learning. No response from LA without going through school. No way to prepare him emotionally. No contact with parents in advance to get to know the situation or discuss what child is able to engage or how best to support him, just a take it or leave it approach. Still no mental health support to help deal with the OCD and issues preventing him attending school - child wants to be at school and to be 'normal'.

Sizzledsausage — 2025-09-03 13:04:22 UTC

Back to school…my worst nightmare time.

Son age 10, still awaiting ehcp finalisation and struggling in the mean time. Hasnt yet gone back to school as he cant bear it without support. So thats one NOT back to school.

School have tried to help but it has been superficial, surface help, no real commitment to actually helping in terms of getting the EHCP requirements in place. Not even the buts they could do without funding.

Child 2: goes back tomorrow. I have now emailed the school for the 3rd time with no response. I have no idea whether what she needs is in place and I am dreading the tears that may come tomorrow.

We are all drowning in a system that does not have our children and meeting their needs proactively at the forefront of their operations.

What EOTAS package??

2025-09-03 13:17:40 UTC

New school year and still no EOTAS package, nor a final EHCP despite annual review last academic year. LA were so hard to get hold of over the summer, promise things in calls and then don't deliver them. Also no support in actually putting an EPTAS package together or finding provision. Wouldn't answer basic questions. Seem to finally be getting movement but I'm having to outlay financially to get provision for my child now and no idea if or when I'll get that money back

Fear of the unknown

2025-09-03 13:23:56 UTC

We have an EOTAS "package" that I have purposefully kept light on ed and more on therapy for my son but its a very weird "halfway house" not knowing how or when your child will be ready for education and then knowing the fight will be there to get it right, sad being in an "unguided" and "unsupported" world just because mainstream school didn't suit my son and in fact, broke him.

EOTAS

2025-09-03 14:03:10 UTC

We're still waiting for a finalised EOTAS package. It's now been 2 and a half years out of school with no finalised ehcp. They're currently quibbling over how to pay 38 weeks of 50 weeks gymnastics. We get to fund the other weeks, it's not an option to do term time only with the gym she's settled in. It really bugs me to be told 'parents usually would pay that' but parents haven't usually had to give up a job to be at home with a child failed by the system. Mileage payment also still not sorted. But it's ok, the LA understand our concerns. I think the fake empathy angers me more than anything!

Exhausted but optimistic

2025-09-03 14:04:04 UTC

First day at a new school after the previous school failed to offer any meaningful support for AuDHD 8yo who is struggling academically, emotionally and showing signs of burn out. Lots of gaslighting from the previous school who wouldn't pay for EP, OT, CCN input as it "wouldn't tell us anything anyway, because she golden at school."

We're hoping the new school will actually listen to us and lives up the impression we got on the tour of the school and taster days.

No school place, no alternative provision

2025-09-03 16:54:01 UTC

My 9 year old has an EHCP for SEN school. Her last school ended her placement with only 4 weeks notice. That was back in February. The LA have not found her another school and the AP she tried also failed. We still have absolutely no provision in place for her and we've had to pay a private advocate to help us.

2025-09-03 20:42:45 UTC

If you are reading this and have the power to make a change- please, please use it. Time is running out for these children right now, regardless of what you are trying to do fix things for future children. Take responsibility and action for these children, before it is too late.

A positive first day

2025-09-04 13:47:53 UTC

After issues with getting a response from the SENCO about my son's EHCP requirements during the transition to High School, today has been a positive day.

My son came home happy, his form tutor emailed me to let me know how his first day went and the SENCO responded within 36 hours about something I needed clarification on. Fingers crossed this is the start of a positive home-school relationship.

Great transition (same school)

2025-09-04 21:22:51 UTC

Son’s moved Y2 to Y3 in the same mainstream school, and first two days have been really positive. They made him a booklet with photos of new staff and classroom, staff took time to get to know him last term, and it’s definitely helped. Much easier start with this prep for him.

Post 16 transport

2025-10-09 08:33:56 UTC

we are in our third year of attending college. First two years our DTP had the ‘deduction’ made. Wcc checked in the spring if we still needed transport for sept25 - they were told yes & I also raised the fact that we should no longer have the deduction due to our YP age - they acknowledged and agreed. Guess what? They are still deducting it as our DTP amount is exactly the same as the previous two years!

Basic administration or trying to ‘save money’ by hoping we wouldn’t notice?